Our Environmental Policy

Flights

Working with Climate Care, we offset the carbon that is emitted from each of our clients’ outbound flights and make it easy for them to offset the return flight. See below for more details.

Recycled paper

We use 100% post-consumer recycled paper for our brochures, flyers, letterheads and office stationary. To be honest, these days its so easy to print on recycled paper that any company not doing so simply isn't trying (or willing) to act responsibly - post consumer recycled paper costs about 25% more but by buying it we encourage more recycling. Wherever possible we avoid printing documents and re-use all paper that still has a blank side.

Energy efficiency

In Canada, with its regular sub zero temperatures, we take the efficiency of the buildings we use extremely seriously. We’ve increased roof and wall insulation, fitted or repaired windows, and have installed energy efficient light bulbs, timer switches and energy efficient boilers.

Bio fuels

We own several buses in Canada which we run on low carbon fuels – either propane or bio diesel.

NONSTOP clothing

We pay a little bit more, but get better quality, by buying fair-trade organic cotton hoodies and t-shirts for our branded clothing.

What is carbon offsetting

Although we’ve actively been trying to reduce our environmental impact, as a company offering courses in Canada it’s inevitable that there’s a flight component to our packages. Realising the high carbon footprint of flying we’ve always felt conscious of this element of our business.

Working with Climate Care, an organisation that enables individuals or companies to make financial contributions towards the funding of worldwide projects which reduce carbon emissions, we offer our clients the opportunity to offset the CO2 emissions from their flights.

Climate Care

Climate Care’s projects cover a broad range of activities and often have social as well as environmental benefits, such as:

• Rainforest restoration in Uganda
• Funding bio-fuel stoves in India
• Supplying energy efficient light bulbs in the Marshall Islands, Pacific Ocean
• Providing energy efficient stoves in Central America

Full details and explanations of Climate Care’s work can be found on their website: www.climatecare.org it’s well worth a read and many of the projects are really inspiring.

It goes without saying that ideally we would not have to travel to enjoy awesome powder conditions (or that carbon-neutral aviation was already available). By choosing to travel we are responsible for carbon emissions and as such we acknowledge the damage caused by flying. However, we believe it is far better to participate in CO2 offsetting projects which result in positive CO2 reductions rather than ignore the impact of our actions.

Other ethical policies

Spread across the globe in pursuit of fun, sports and adventure, we don’t just concern ourselves with the impact we have on the local environment. We are in a strong position to give back to local communities and therefore we’re involved in initiatives such as:

Free lessons – We offer free ski/snowboard lessons to local families in Fernie, Canada who have previously not had the opportunity to experience the sports we love.

Local suppliers – We 100% believe in supporting the community whether it be by sponsoring local teams and events or by using local businesses to encourage a vibrant local community.  In our restaurant in Fernie, Canada we serve British Columbian wines and beers (which are excellent!) in a bid to reduce the carbon footprint of our restaurant activity.